Post-hole digger.



No. 70|,992. Patented June I0, I902.

11. A. BOWEN. POST HOLE BIGGER.

(Application filed 3m 2a, 1902'.)

(No Model.)

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID A. BOWEN, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID N. COLEMAN AND E. G. KERR, OF J OI-INSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,992, dated June 10, 1902. Application filed January 23, 1902. Serial No. 90,955. (No model.)

tain new and useful Improvements in Post- Hole Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in implements adapted to driving post-holesin which an inverted conical shell composed of ing post-holes.

corresponding sections is io'be driven into the ground to the required depth and subse'. quently forced apartlaterally to enlarge the holes sufficient to receive posts, as will be de-' scribed.

v The objects of my invention are to produce! animplement simple and durable in construction and convenient in use whereby post-holes may be driven with facility in ground suit} able for the purpose. These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated-in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents, a vertical section of a portion of my improvedimplement for driv- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an inverted conical screw-plug corresponding in outlines with the interior of a conical shell to be used in connection therewith. Figs. 3 and 4 represent cross-sections, respectively,- of ashell. Fig. 5 isa section of a cap detached to be placed over the end of the shell to re ceive the blows in driving, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of a bar with which to center thev shell preparatory to'being driven.

Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A complete shell'is composed of corresponding inverted conical sections A, united and maintained in positionhy means of mortises B and tenons O, as shown in" Figs. 1, 3, and 4. An inverted conical screw-plug D is provided corresponding in "outlines with the interior of the complete shell, so that after the shell has been driven to thedepth required it is inserted therein and the sections forced apart laterally to enlarge the holes sufficiently to receive theposts, after which the shell, together with the screw-plug,maybe withdrawn, the two separated, and the sections forming the shell readjusted to repeat the operation.

To drive the shell without injury thereto, a metal capE isprovided fitted with a Wooden plug G to receive the blows, the edge S of the cap resting upon the shoulders J of the 5 5 shell over which it is placed, the neck I main- 7 taining the cap in positionthereon.

For convenienceof centering the shell preparatory to its beingdriven a bar L is provided and which may be conveniently employed as a lever in turning the screw-plug D into the shell. o

The operation of driving a post-hole with myimproved implement may be briefly'stated as follows: After centering the shell is to be driven to therequireddepth, the screw-plug inserted therein, and the sections forced apart laterally until the holes are 'sufliciently en larged to receive the posts. The shell, to-

gether with the screw-plug therein, is withdrawn, the plug and the shell separated, and the sections again readjusted to repeat the operation. I

Having described my improvement in implements adapted to driving post-holes, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- In a post-hole digger, an expansible shell comprising two sections divided longitudinally through the head and point and having their meeting faces provided with threaded grooves, mortise and tenon connections for the sections and aplug threaded approximately its full length engaging the threads of the sections'in such manner as to separate the sections frorniend to end substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 9th day of January, 1902. DAVID A. BOWEN.

Witnesses: v 4

I JNo. S. TITTLE,

E. G.KERR. 

